Trump adds 100% tariffs on China, critical controls on software exports

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States would impose new 100% tariffs on imports from China “on top of any tariffs it currently pays,” starting Nov. 1.

Trump also said the United States would also impose export controls on “all critical software” on the same date.

The president’s announcement comes hours after he threatened to impose “a massive increase” in tariffs on Chinese imports in retaliation for new controls China has imposed on exports of rare earth minerals from that country.

About 70% of the world’s supply of rare earth minerals comes from China. These minerals are essential to high-tech industries including automotive, defense and semiconductors.

Trump suggested earlier Friday that he would cancel a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea because of China’s new controls.

Almost all products imported from China to the United States already face high tariffs. Although there are varying levels of specific tariffs on imports, ranging from 50% on steel and aluminum to 7.5% on consumer goods, the so-called effective tariff rate on Chinese imports is currently 40%, according to Wells Fargo Economics and analysts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

“We just learned that China has taken an extraordinarily aggressive stance on trade by sending an extremely hostile letter to the world, declaring that it will, beginning November 1, 2025, impose large-scale export controls on virtually every product it makes, and some that it doesn’t make,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social article on Friday.

“This affects EVERY country, without exception, and is obviously a plan they designed years ago. This is absolutely unheard of in international trade and a moral disgrace in dealing with other nations,” Trump wrote.

“Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented stance, and speaking only on behalf of the United States, and not other countries that have been similarly threatened, beginning on November 1, 2025 (or earlier, depending on subsequent actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a 100% tariff on China, in addition to any tariff it currently pays,” he wrote.

“Also on November 1, we will impose export controls on all critical software.”

China’s Commerce Ministry said Thursday that starting Dec. 1, foreign entities must hold a license to export products containing more than 0.1 percent rare earths from that country, or made using Chinese mining, refining, magnet-making or recycling technologies.